Spinning top



March 27, 1951 5. J. DROBNIEWSKI SPINNING TOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1947 S. J. DROBNIEWSKI March 27, 1951 SPINNING TOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1947 INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE SPINNING TOP Stephan Drobniewski, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 24, 1947, Serial No. 775,903

. 6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a spinning top and is more specifically concerned with an improved type of construction incorporating various features tending to simplify the spinning of the top.

The tops in use at present are primarily designed for older children because of the difficulty in imparting the initial momentum to the top. Ordinarily considerable time is necessary for the child to develop a technique which permits satisfactory handling of the top. It is an object of the present invention to provide a top which can be easily spun by younger children as well as older children. The top described herein incorporates features in its construction which obviate the difiiculties previously encountered and permit the imparting of the full spinning impetus while it is being held in the hand. Further, my top also permits the removing of the top from any surface while spinning and placing it on another surface without causing any decrease in the spinning motion.

My invention also permits a child to have a series of different shaped tops at a relatively low cost. This is accomplished by providing a single spindle having pins slidably and rotatably mounted therein, this spindle being adapted to receive various sections of top bodies. By varying the particular sections placed upon the spindle, the child can form any shaped top he desires. The spindle and sections are of a closely fitted design so that they can be easily forced upon the spindle but will remain in a fixed position with respect to the spindle while the top is rotating. In some instances the sections are constructed so that when particular sections are placed on the spindle an annular recess is formed in the body of the top which can be used as a receptacle for an extra piece of string or cord so that the child using the top always has the necessary string available.

The essential advantages and salient features oi. my invention are clearly evident from the drawings included herewith and the explanation of these drawings. I,

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a cross-section of the top, and Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are conventional side elevations illustrating various shapes of the top body which may be satisfactorily employed in the construction of the top. Figure 8 is a crosssection of a top consisting of a separate spindle with sections of the top body placed thereon, these sections being designed so that an inner annular recess is formed when they are placed upon the spindle. Figure 9 is a conventional side elevation of the spindle and Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 illustrate various sections which can be interchanged to produce different shaped tops having the inner annular recess present. The top body may be made of wood, metal or plastic without effecting the simplicity of manipulation.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral I is used to designate the body of the top. The numeral 9 designates a small diameter hole axially bored through the top body. 2 and 6 are sleeves which are placed in fixed positions in the upper and lower sections of the axially bored hole, each sleeve being flush at one end with the outside of the top body. 3 and 5 are revolving pins loosely mounted within said sleeves 2 and 6, each pin having an enlarged surface on the end within the top body of sufiicient diameter to prevent the pin from being completely removed from the sleeve, but sufficiently small to avoid contact with the top body. At least one of the pins is of sufficient length so that a considerable portion extends below the lower end of the sleeve so that a vertical sliding motion can be imparted to the pin. The slidably mounted pin is an essential feature of this invention and permits anyone playing with the top to lift it from any surface by grasping the knobbed end of the pin without contacting the top body and stopping its spinning motion. The top of the present invention may be used in the following manner:

A string is wound around groove 8, the top being held by the knob portions of pins 3 and 5, and the initial momentum given to the top by the pulling of the string free from the top thus causing it to spin. The top can thereafter be held by the slidably mounted pin and placed on any surface to continue its spinning. Alternatively, the top may be spun while holding a single knob either the lower or upper knob.

In the previous discussion reference is made to only one of the pins being slidably mounted within the top body. However, this invention is not limited to having only one of the pins slidably mounted since satisfactory results can be obtained if both pins are slidably mounted within the top body. In fact, in some instances this is desirable since it permits lifting the top from any surface regardless of which end it is spinning on. As will be evident from the study of the various shapes shown in the drawing, some of these shapes are more adaptable than others to having both revolving pins slidably mounted therein.

In the various shapes shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, various provisions have been made for winding the string around the top body. In some instances, the string can be wound around the neck of the top body. Another important feature of the present invention which makes it particularly applicable to use by smaller children is the fact that no particular care need be exercised in winding the string around the top.

Another modification of the invention is shown in Figure 8. In this type of construction an assembly of the slidably and revolvably mounted pins is employed to form a spindle adapted to receive various parts of the top body. As will be evident from the drawing, it is possible when using a sectional construction to combine various sections to form tops having a shape similar to any one of the shapes illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 or any other desired shape depending upon the sectional pieces employed.

Referring to Figure 8, the numeral 10 designates a spindle having a hole bored axially therethrough in which are positioned sleeves in: the upper and lower sections of the hole designated as H and I2, and pins [3 and M slidablyand revolvably mounted within said sleeves in a manner similar-to that described previously with reference to Figure 1.

By placing sections I5 and 16 upon spindle 25, a top body is formed having an inner annular recess H, which can be employed as a receptacle for an extra piece of string to be used for impartingthe spinning motion to the top.

Figures 10, 11, 12and:13 illustrate various sectionsiwhichican'be interchanged with sections 15 and 16 to form top bodies of different shapes but still containing the annular recess l1.

Iclaim as my invention:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a spinning top comprising in combinationa single piece top body having a hole axiallybored therethrough, a fixed sleeve in one end of said hole,--one end of said sleeve being flushwith' the top body, a pin rotatably and slidably' mounted within said sleeve with a'second fixed'sleeve in the other end of said hole and a pin rotatably mounted in said second sleeve.

2. As a; new article of manufacture, a spinning top comprising in combination a single piece top body having a hole axially boredtherethrough, a fixed sleeve in one'end of said hole, one end of said sleeve being flushwith the top body, a pin rotatably and. slidably mounted Within said sleeve, a second fixed sleeve in the other end of said hole and a pin rotatably and slidably mounted in said second sleeve.

3. A spindle comprising in combination an elongated cylindrical main section adapted to receive top body sections on either end thereof and provided with an axially bored hole therethrough, sleeves positioned in either end of said hole, pins rotatably mounted in said sleeves and at least one of said pins being slidably mounted therein.

4. A spindle comprising in combination an elongated cylindrical main section adapted to :receive top body sections on either end thereof said sleeves.

5. As a new article of manufacture a spinning top comprising in combination a spindle consisting of an elongated cylindrical main portion adapted to receive top body sections on either end thereof and provided with an axially bored hole therethrough, fixed sleeves positioned in either end of said hole, pins rotatably mounted within said sleeves and at least one of said pins being slidably mounted therein, top body sections fitted on said spindle, said body sections shaped to form an inner annular recess When assembled on said spindle.

6. As a new article of manufacture, 'a spinning top comprising in combination a top body with a central portion thereof'having a hole axially bored therethrough, a fixedsleeve in one end of said hole, a pin rotatably and slidably mounted within said sleeve a second fixed sleeve in the other end of said hole and a pin rotatably mounted in said second sleeve.

STEPHAN J. DROBNIEWSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

